Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over the state of democracy in Africa, arguing that the continent has largely adopted political systems inherited from its colonial past rather than developing governance models suited to its own realities.

Speaking as a panelist at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue 2026 in Bauchi State, Obasanjo questioned whether what exists in Africa can truly be described as an indigenous form of democracy.

He said:

“There is no democracy in Africa, but borrowed and forced liberal democracy that has caged Africans.”

Obasanjo further challenged the idea of an established African model of democracy, arguing that Western liberal democracy was imposed on the continent by colonial powers.

“Is there African democracy? Let us not deceive ourselves. There’s nothing like African democracy. We were given Western liberal democracy by our colonial masters.

“For quite some time, I have been increasingly worried about the performance of democracy in Africa, and indeed, in other regions of the world.”

The former president noted that concerns about the effectiveness of liberal democracy are not limited to Africa, pointing to discussions previously held by the foundation on the challenges facing democratic systems.

He also distinguished Western liberal democracy from other political models, noting that countries such as China and Switzerland may have different perspectives on the health of their own systems.

“Let me emphasise that we are referring to Western liberal democracy because the Chinese will not agree with you that their own democracy is dying. And maybe the Swiss, who have practised some form of direct democracy, may also not agree with you that their democracy is dying.”

Obasanjo’s remarks have since generated discussion about the future of democracy in Africa, the legacy of colonialism and whether African countries should develop governance systems that better reflect their own political and cultural realities.